Patent GB-1430753-A (GB)
Title: Conforming of shoe uppers to the shaped of appropriate lasts
IPC: A43D111/00
Filed: 1972-05-04
Abstract: 1430753 Boots &c BRITISH UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CO Ltd 3 May 1973 [4 May 1972] 20722/72 Heading A3B  A machine for automatically lasting the sides of shoes (the toe and heel ends having previously been lasted) includes a plurality of shoe carriers 2 which are moved along a track arrangement from a loading station D, through a sensing station G where the shoe is correctly positioned on the shoe carrier 2 and through a pair of lasting stations L 1 , L 2  (only one shown in Fig. 1) where the sides of the shoe are lasted one after the other, to an unloading station at the opposite end of the machine. The machine also includes a pair of cement applying stations C 1 , C 2  (only one shown in Fig. 1) each located in advance of the appropriate lasting station L 1 , L 2  where cement is applied to that side of the insole to be lasted at the subsequent lasting station. The shoe carriers 2 run around an endless track 10, 12, 14 and are moved between the various stations by a driven chain 100, latches on the shoe carriers 2 engaging projections on the chain 100. When each shoe carrier 2 arrives in the vicinity of an operating station the latch is disconnected from the chain 100 and the carrier 2 is moved, by a piston and cylinder arrangement, to its correct position at the station, this position being determined by an adjustable stop on the carrier 2 which has been set according to the size of the shoe. In use an operator places a shoe on the last pin of a heel post 52 on the shoe carrier 2 at the loading station D and starts a cycle of the machine. The carrier 2 then moves to the sensing station G where the heel end of the shoe is centralised by a pair of members which engage opposite sides of the shoe and which move widthwise of the shoe to equal extents. The forepart of the shoe is then engaged by a second similar pair of members to centralise the forepart of the shoe. A toe gauge T then moves into contact with the toe end of the shoe, the toe gauge T setting the stop member to its correct position according to the size of the shoe and moving the toe post 56 to its correct position. The toe post 56 is then raised to clamp the shoe in its adjusted position. The carrier 2 is then moved by the piston and cylinder device at the sensing station G until the stop engages an abutment member at that station. The shoe is then correctly located beneath a fixed member 142. The shoe assembly is then raised (including the toe and heel posts 52, 56) until the shoe bottom contacts the member 142. The shoe bottom is then located at its correct height. The various parts of the shoe carrier 2 are held in their correct positions by bar-lock arrangements. The shoe carrier then moves to the cement applying station C 1  where cement is applied to one side of the insole. The carrier 2 then moves to the lasting station L 1  where one side of the shoe is lasted. The lasting devices at station L 1  are of the type described in Specification 1390611 and include a gripper 200 and a pair of wiper rolls 202, 204. The gripper 200 tensions the upper and roll 202 wipes the upper from the heel region up to the gripper. Roll 204 then wipes the upper from the toe region towards the gripper 200 which releases the upper when the roll 204 reaches the gripper. The carrier 2 then moves through stations C 2  and L 2  where the other side of the shoe is lasted and the shoe is removed from the carrier 2 at the unloading station. The carriers return to the loading station D along the lower track run 12 via a parking station (not shown).